My Two Days With Paul

Penny has just posted a blog entry sharing news of Paul and so it makes no sense for me to cover much of the same ground in this entry.

Charlotte and William’s visits were, in my view, important milestones, in every sense. Reflecting over the last ten weeks, I really feel that their visits, with their Mother, were a turning point for Paul. Charlotte’s visit was hard. She had to “break the ice” as the family was reunited for the first time since the accident. William’s visit followed. It was hard for the two of them, and I think especially for Paul, but since the time they spent together as a family, Paul has progressed in leaps and bounds. I think the visits were a real tonic.

I have but one moment to share from my trip that perhaps indicates just how much progress he is making. Paul, as we all know, comes from Yorkshire. Seeing him engage with the two speech therapists during my visit reminded me that he has a very stubborn streak in him. I had to laugh - they just could not induce him to engage and speak. Nothing they said could induce him to co-operate. However, when I stood up to leave him late on the Friday afternoon in question and I told him I would return the next day in the early morning, he did respond. In his very quiet and faltering voice, he just reminded me that I should not come to see him in the morning. It was too busy. Come later, he said. That was all. We had sat quietly, without any exchange for some twenty minutes, and then he shared that clear, parting thought. Having not really said that much to me over the two days, I was thrilled.

Humpty Dumpty did have a great fall, but we are seeing him put together again. Even Paul smiled when I shared this thought with him.

Since my trip a week ago, Penny reports that he has engaged with her more and more. He really enjoys getting out into the garden during the day. He is talking to her more in his rather soft lilt – the strength to his voice will return in time. There are times when he is fully lucid. Then he heads off on a tangent. I gather this is to be expected as he overcomes a long period of vocal and indeed mental inactivity. Sometimes the wires in the “telephone exchange” do cross and remarks are made out of context. His brain, we must not forget, has had a really bad bash and the weeks ahead will, I truly believe, see it reconnect. And after awhile, he just dozes off. He still gets quite tired.

His swallowing has improved hugely over the last few days. The muscle memory is returning. Kit Kats are welcome treats with afternoon tea in the garden.

As Penny indicated in her last entry, the Doctors are working out when to move him from the high dependency unit. This will see him transfer into another area of the hospital in Rankweil where they will commence the next stage of his treatment and rehabilitation. Walking perhaps? The next week will be an important one as they assess his medical condition, and if they are comfortable, they may elect to remove the “trachea device”. This will be another milestone. The skull replacement surgery has been a success and I understand it is healing properly.

We are engaging with the Medical Team as they start to assess and plan next steps. This planning “will take the time it is going to take”. Their measured and considered approach will help us map out the road ahead. Dr Eiler and his team are reflecting on what will be right for Paul on his own unique patient pathway. I am confident that on my return to Feldkirch, in some two to three weeks time, they will be able to share with Penny a sense of what the next steps could be. Certainly there will be several more weeks ahead of us in Rankweil, but beyond that we cannot speculate. We have time and as Penny indicated, we must ensure we do what is right for Paul.

The constant prayers, thoughts and care of the community for Paul and his Family are making a difference. Taken together, they are a powerful force and mindful of the hope that the Easter message brings us, I believe we all have so much to be grateful for, nearly eleven weeks on from the accident. My visit left me encouraged, but at the same time, we know we have a long road ahead as Paul starts to regains his strength, and engages, all the time recovering at his own pace.

We really do have much to be thankful for.

As ever, Charles